This year, 77% of Americans took nearly a week to complete a thorough spring clean of their home. Having a clean and healthy place to live is a priority for most people, and cleaning can be very satisfying and make you feel safer in your own home. However, it is also rather time-consuming, and some commonly used products can be harmful to the environment and your health. Fortunately, advances in technology have seen a rise in the availability of highly effective and sustainable cleaning products made without harsh chemicals, and smart technology can now help to minimize the need for such products in the first place. 

Effective Eco-Friendly Products

Technology in cleaning isn’t just about equipment and smart devices. It has enabled the manufacturing of increasingly eco-friendly products that effectively remove dirt and bacteria without the disadvantages of harsher chemical cleaners. In the cleaning industry, improvements in technology have made the production of ionized water easier for more facilities. Tap water can be converted into a chemical-free cleaner by infusing it with ozone in an electrolysis process, so creating a highly safe and effective disinfectant. Homeowners can also invest in a compact water ionizer for the home. The resulting ionized water kills 99.9% of bacteria but leaves no chemical residue when used in the kitchen and on other surfaces around the home.

Reducing Environmental Impact

Water is the main ingredient in most cleaning fluids but this makes them heavy and expensive to transport and deliver. This means even eco-friendly products create a large carbon footprint, especially since they are also packaged in single-use plastic bottles. Scientists have now developed a method of compressing cleaning products into tablet form, which can then be dissolved in ordinary tap water in a reusable bottle. As well as being more sustainable, these products have also been designed to be easier to use and more effective than conventional cleaners.

Preventing Major Clean-Ups

Some problem areas in the home, such as the formation of mold, are harder to treat without using harsh and potentially harmful chemical cleaners. However, advances in smart technology mean that these issues can be more easily prevented in the first place. Air purifiers and dehumidifiers are not new, but, when these devices are combined with smart technology, their effectiveness is enhanced. By providing you with feedback on the quality of air in your home, you can be alerted to unseen problems and unusual levels of moisture in the air. This means you can deal with the causes of mold before it has time to become an unsightly mess and contaminate the air with its spores.  

New technology can make keeping your house clean and safe much easier with increasingly sophisticated devices and smart appliances. In addition, through innovative scientific design, it enables the creation of sustainable cleaning products which, although gentler on the environment and less harmful to your family’s health, are also highly effective. 

You probably do spring cleaning every year, but it's important to remember that you need to clean before winter hits as well. Colder temperatures and an increase in precipitation mean the inside and outside of your home need to be protected from the elements. Here are some great places to start your winter cleaning.

Indoors

Cleaning indoors before winter hits means protecting your home from the potential bad weather about to arrive. Rain, snow, and overall wet weather arrive in most areas during winter. All that moisture makes it necessary to focus on keeping mold and mildew at bay in the home. Mold and mildew not only affect your health, but they also affect the value and structure of your house. Check underneath your cabinets for leaks. Wipe down the bottom of your windows and make sure no moisture is seeping in from the outside. Make sure also to keep air circulating in your home. The cooler weather does mean less humidity, but it also means less fresh airflow through your home. Turn on vent fans in your bathroom to clear out moisture and air out areas that are susceptible to mold, such as bathrooms and closets.

Your Home Exterior

Cleaning the outside of your home before winter hits is essential. It's not easy to go outside in the snow to wipe down the exterior windows and clean your siding. Do this before cold weather arrives. While you are cleaning, look for ways to protect your home from the elements. You may need to caulk around doorways or windows. It is also a good idea to repaint before cold weather seeps into your home. At the very least, clean your siding, your outside windows, and your yard before it's too cold.

Your Car

Clean your car before snow and low temperatures make it a very unpleasant experience. Wash the outside thoroughly. Don't forget to clear out clutter and vacuum the inside as well. Dust and wipe down the interior, and clean the windows for maximum visibility. You may also want to set up a winter box in the trunk that holds anything you would need if your car broke down in winter. A clean car makes it easier to get out and about when it's cold and dreary.

Winter cleaning is real, and it's important to get started before temperatures drop. If you wait too long, you could end up being incredibly uncomfortable and inconvenienced. You will save yourself a ton of discomfort if you clean these essential areas early.

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• Plumbing can be a source of health issues if left unchecked.
• Leaks can lead to mold growth, which can cause respiratory illnesses and infection.
• Sewer backup causes risks of contracting E. coli, hepatitis and Salmonella.
• Clogged drains are a breeding ground for dangerous mold growth.
• Preventative maintenance is recommended to repair any plumbing problems in a timely manner.

• Prior to the 1970s, asbestos was commonly used in home construction and manufacturing.
• Insulation in homes built prior to 1980 is likely to contain asbestos which can cause respiratory issues, lung cancer, and mesothelioma if breathed in over a long period of time.
• Baby powder and certain cosmetics may still contain traces of asbestos, leading to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer with prolonged use.
• Gardening products have been known to have traces of asbestos from vermiculite which is often mined near asbestos deposits.
• It is best to select premixed soils for gardens to avoid breathing in dust particles that may include asbestos when mixing soils.

Keeping it clean doesn't stop at countertops, windows and the usual germ-accumulating suspects like toilets and sinks. For the deepest and most thorough cleanse, there are some surfaces that are absolute must-cleans that often get overlooked. Here are four important surfaces that you may be forgetting to clean.

Dishwasher

The all-important dishwasher sanitizes your dishes making them safe to eat off of once again, but it is a frequently neglected appliance that doesn't often get a cleaning of its own. It's good to keep in mind that a clean dishwasher gives you cleaner dishes so making sure to give your dishwasher the care it needs inside and out ensures that your dishwasher will not only cleanse your dishes more efficiently, but it will also keep your dishwasher healthier for longer by preventing food buildup that could cause clogging issues.

Doorframe

Be sure to add your doorframes to your cleaning to-do list. Many people do not think to clean their doorframes, but dust can easily accumulate over time, causing irritation to those suffering from allergies. Neglecting to clean doorframes simply creates more settled dirt that can potentially affect your health, so regularly cleaning them reduces the amount of dust that settles and can be dispersed into the air if the door is opened and closed frequently.

Doorknob

Doorknobs are used often but are rarely cleaned. A doorknob can rapidly accumulate germs, so it's important to clean them frequently to prevent germs from spreading unnecessarily. Staying on top of the care of the doorknobs in your home decreases your chances of contracting a virus or other illness that can be spread through touching the same surface as a person with a contagious virus or infection.

Driveway

Cleaning the exterior of your home is equally as important as the cleaning you do on its interior. Your driveway needs love too, and cleaning it regularly allows it to remain intact and reduces the number of cracks that unwashed driveways experience. Neglected driveways get more cracks than driveways that are cleaned regularly, so properly maintaining your driveway by recognizing its need to also be cleansed saves you time and money for repairs in the long run.

Cleaning the seemingly insignificant surfaces on the interior and exterior of your home keeps the smooth running of your house, your loved ones and yourself going strong. Incorporating the regular cleaning of surfaces that you may miss provides you with a cleaner, happier and healthier home.

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In the global effort to reduce our carbon footprint, mitigate the damage caused by climate change and prevent the accumulation of plastic trash floating in the ocean and into landfills, we all have a part to play. Of course, industries responsible for the bulk of pollution are largely responsible, but what about individual consumers? How much plastic waste do we unnecessarily produce? How much do we contribute to the growing carbon problem that is melting the ice caps and destabilizing ecosystems? Here are a few ways you can play a role in being part of the solution that the planet needs to confront these challenges.

Check Labels

Nearly every consumer product involves the use of energy (often fossil fuels), including some that you might not even think of at first glance. Cars burning gasoline are an obvious example, and opting for higher fuel efficiency, hybrids or all-electric vehicles is a huge plus for the environment. But what about food, clothing, or cell phones? The production of these products, and the extraction of the raw materials used to make them, can often be harmful as well. Fortunately, many companies feature third-party labels that can verify whether they are an environmentally responsible corporation that adheres to standards set by outside advocacy groups. These companies often feature their endorsements proudly on their products’ labels, so check them out before you make a purchase. Using products made with biofuels can help reduce your carbon footprint.

Look for Eco-Friendly Brands

Consider choosing brands that have built a reputation for good environmental stewardship. Thanks to the internet and growing investment in watchdog groups holding corporations responsible for their practices, accessing information about which brands perform best environmentally is easier than ever. In fact, retailers, both online and with physical locations, have dedicated entire sections of their inventory to products with a specific focus on protecting the environment. Many companies invest a portion of their profits back into certain causes like endangered species preservation or water conservation.

Use Secondhand Products When Possible

Consumer waste places a tremendous burden on the planet. Discarded products, from appliances to electronics to clothes, often end up in landfills. Many are toxic, seeping chemicals into water supplies and harming plant and animal life. Synthetic fibers like polyester require lots of energy and oil inputs to make them. Natural fibers like cotton and wool require literally tons of natural resources to produce and process. If possible, consider purchasing high-quality used items instead of new products. You will encourage the growth of the secondhand retail industry while also saving money. Also, when you’re doing your spring cleaning and getting rid of your excess stuff, consider donating items that are still in good condition, rather than just throwing them away.

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• Organic weed killers, such as vinegar, garlic, tomato leaf, and pepper spray can be used to tackle weeds in organic gardens.
• Mulch can be used to smother weeds and prevent them from getting sunlight. Quality mulch can be purchased at a local gardening store or made from items such as compost and newspaper.
• Pulling weeds by hand is an effective method of removing the entire weed plus the root. Protect fingers with gloves and use a claw or trowel to loosen soil.

Cleaning your home typically requires a few different products. You might use something in your kitchen than you would not use in your bathroom. Many of these products are designed to kill harmful bacteria and germs that could get you and your family sick. While cleaning is a necessity, using products that contain harmful chemicals is not. There are a number of toxins that may be lurking in your store-bought cleaning products.

Triclosan

Triclosan is a chemical that is commonly found in dishwashing detergents and antibacterial hand soaps. Triclosan has the potential to disrupt endocrine function because of its carcinogenic properties. There was a lawsuit against Colgate Palmolive for misleading consumers about Triclosan. This ingredient is something you can and should do without. There are natural ingredients that do the same job.

Phthalates

Phthalates are frequently found in dish soaps, air fresheners, and soaps. They function to add to the durability and longevity of a product. If a company makes an air freshener and wants it to last in the air longer, this is where phthalates come into play. They can be extremely harmful to the body, causing organ toxicity and breathing problems.

Perchloroethylene (Perc)

This is a chemical that is used in a number of dry-cleaning solutions, spot removers, and upholstery cleaners. While it can provide you with clean and crisp clothing, it can also cause a number of health issues, including dizziness and loss of coordination. It’s a very strong chemical because it is designed to provide a powerful cleaning ability.

Ammonia

Ammonia is used as a stand-alone cleaner that can be diluted with water. It can also be found within other store-bought cleaning products. It’s a strong disinfectant that is frequently used in toilet, floor and tub cleaners. People who have lung issues will frequently experience health issues when they are using ammonia or are around this substance. It is used as a very strong disinfectant, but it can cause eye irritation, lung irritation, organ toxicity, headaches, dizziness and much more.

If you are looking for effective cleaning products that you can use in your home, consider using something that is free of harmful chemicals. There are natural and green alternatives that will do just as good of a job getting things clean. You can even make your own products using white vinegar and essential oils. A little bit of research can help you determine what the best product is for your home and family.

An approach to living that places emphasis on relationships and experiences over possessions is growing in popularity. However, as attractive as a minimalist lifestyle sounds, the thought of trying to live that way with kids may seem overwhelming, especially if your well-meaning extended family are fond of spoiling your children with lots of material gifts on birthdays and holidays. However, it is never too late to make an impactful change in the lives of your children at any age with a minimalist way of life.

Prioritize Experiences Over Things

Raising children requires more than the ability to provide food, shelter and plenty of material possessions. In fact, research shows that experience helps individuals of all ages to find happiness and feelings of contentedness much more than owning things. Make memories with your children by spending time with them rather than spending money on items and belongings that they simply do not need. These experiences will give your children much more of a happy childhood and an advantage in life than if you were to just give them material things.

Declutter

Living as a minimalist rarely happens overnight. Instead, becoming a minimalist often requires a time of transition, especially when you are also attempting to get your entire family and children on board with the idea. Spend time decluttering your home at least once a month, especially when you are just starting out with a minimalist way of life. You can get started by decluttering your home of old and outdated clothing that is no longer being worn. Donating unwanted or unused items is not only a quick way to help with decluttering, but it is also a great way to give back while taking advantage of tax incentives. Also, research your children's toys and get rid of any that have been recalled or that may be harmful. That is a simple and painless way to start decluttering toys.

Be Patient

Children at any age can quickly become stubborn or defiant when their lives are changing or they are experiencing something new. When you want your entire household to transition into a minimalist lifestyle, it is imperative to remain patient. Patience is essential for any household that is currently undergoing major changes to their current way of life. Over time, your children will come to appreciate the positive effects of having more clear space and less mess in their physical surroundings.

Understanding how to approach a minimalist lifestyle for you and your kids is the first step to truly making a change in your life. With a complete understanding of living as a minimalist and the ability to communicate with your children effectively, you can begin making the necessary changes to live your life without the burden of too much stuff.

Here’s another article you might like: How to Get Your Kids to Help with the Cleaning